Online: List of Direct Hires with DOLE Clearances or OEC

If you are a direct hired OFW, and recently applied for an OEC, you can check if your name is already on the list of those whose clearances were approved. This list is available online. Go to the POEA website via the below link:

Note: These Notice Numbers get updated regularly and will definitely change every time you visit.

The page will show you the main directory of Notices, each number representing a group or batch of applicants with approved OECs. These Notices will open as a pdf file, and also include an instruction on how to claim your OEC.

Click on each of the Notices to find your name, you can make the indicated date as a reference. For example, if you applied in September or early October 2017, your name would probably be under Notice No. 336 if your clearance is approved:

Under this notice, the clearances were received by POEA from DOLE in October 30, 2017.

If your name is not on any of the lists and you want to check the status of your OEC application, you can contact POEA directly at 722-11-44 or 722-11-55.

Hi sir ely,Ask qlng if i’ll be needing to undergo another medical for poea oec..despite done nq ng medical sa iom clinic before my visa release..
I have read kc blogs telling me that medical is needed as poea requirement..so I ask the clinic and they told me that they cant issue any med cert bec. The medical itself is a private property of the canada immigration..

Clarification on my visa, its a temporary work short stay specialist ( subclass 400) that only for 3 months. I tried to email to polo Australia and they are telling me that the ban for direct hires was still going on and need an agency to process my documents. I read in this site that if direct hire the only requirements needed is a contract with authencation from polo or embassy from job site and also you can ask for clearance directly from the director, can you give me some idea about this..
Thanks..

Yes, the authenticated contract is needed, along with other documents from you and your employer. The agency should be able to provide you the complete list of requirements if there are more. I am not endorsing them but, you can try to inquire from MERCAN in Ortigas; they’re located in Robinsons just across the POEA office. For our case, we picked Golden Horizon in Novaliches: http://phdocuments.com/finding-the-exact-location-of-golden-horizon-placement-agency/

We’ve been to both agencies last year, and there are no fees for consultation. They will give you advise regarding the process, processing time, fees, and requirements. Note however that these are just my personal suggestions, you can try making inquiries or transact with any POEA licensed agency of your choice.

I have an employer in Singapore who is willing to hire me again. I was in fact approved for an S-Pass in Singapore last November 2017 but since it was already strict since that time, they end up cancelling my work visa. I’m having a hard time finding a local accredited agency here in Cebu City. Do you happen to know a list or any recommendation you know that can help me process OEC here in Cebu? Is it also possible for the placement fee to be waived?

I would like to ask for your help regarding my case….I worked as a SEA BASED and just now I will be assigned in SHORE BASED…same company online the jobsite was changed. I am qualified for “SECTION 124.Exemption from the Ban on Direct Hiring” of this document (see page 31): since now I am classified asDIRECT HIRE….

I recommend that you visit the POEA office and present your papers, or discuss you case with them for assessment. My guess is, you may only need an OEC as a returning OFW (and to the same employer), and not the OEC for new and direct-hired workers. But it would be best if you consult the POEA regarding this.

Hi! Ely
I have a problem regarding my OEC. I need an exemption from Dole because I’m direct hired. I came back to the Philippines last month and my new employer wants me to fly back to Japan soon . Please guide me on what to do because I cannot get OEC because of the POLO requirements. Please help me! Thank you!

If you are already in Thailand, I think you can process your papers to an OWWA branch in Thailand.

By “professionals”, they mean professionals and skilled workers which are qualified under the exemptions – and it’s up to the POEA to determine that. But if you check the comments here, it looks like this exemption is no longer applicable either.

Can i still get oec even though my contract is not yet authenticated? My name is already in dole clearance website but my problem is my employer told me that they cannot process my authenticated contract because according to them i need to there in thailand to have it authenticated? What are other options that you may recommend for me to have oec?

I asked my friend to call POEA and check if I can process my POEA without going through an agency since I am a direct hire currently working in Thailand. Sabi ng POEA mag book lang daw ako ng appointment sa balik manggagawa then dalhin mga important documents. so baka implemented pa rin yung exemption. You can ask a friend also to confirm with POEA by calling their hotline. Not sure kung ito talaga yung process but we’ll see pag uwi ko ng Pinas.

How do I get DOLE Clearance? I think this is my only option as the ban for direct hiring is still not lifted 🙁 . I am currently working here in the Philippines at a subsidiary office of a multi-national company and our mother-company in Canada, offers me a job and i accepted it. Only to find out that there was a ban. Please help. Thank you in advance.

For your case, your local HR may be able to assist you with the transition (from PH to Canada). Nonetheless, you can also inquire from the POEA directly. If they will refer you to an agency, you can find the complete list of POEA-licensed agencies here: http://poea.gov.ph/cgi-bin/aglist.asp

I have been reading some comments and seems you do know the way around DIRECT HIRE BAN,
can I just ask if its really possible for me to process my papers with poea and dole without going thru an agency?
I am an ofw from Singapore but bec my contract ended I have to go back to PH.

and now I got hired to teach in Japan and have all the necessary documents to process my visa however I don’t know what to write in a letter to be exempted by the DIRECT HIRE BAN.

would you be kind enough to let me know what to say and how to contact DOLE?

Hi po sir ely uuwi po ako ng pinas para magrenew ng passport as required by my new employer. i have been working abroad for 3 years and now I will change my employer. first time ko din pong kukuha ng OEC dahil tourist po ako nung lumabas ng bansa and then i got hired. Government po sa ibang bansa ang new employer ko. can i process my POEA without the help of the agency? or pwede din po ba balik mangagawa but change employer kahit first time ko po kukuha ng OEC. thanks po.

Hello Ely, please refer to the Labor Code of the Philippines. Yes, there is a ban for direct-hire, pero may exemptions po na dapat i-approve ni Labor Secretary. There is no need to contact an agency kung may contract ka na at wala pang affiliated agency ang employer mo. All we need to do is set an appointment and letter with the POEA Administrator/Secretary for us to get a DIrect-Hire approval.

Thanks for sharing! I hope this will help others who are confused with the process. Care to share more details on how to set an appointment? Should applicants direct their letters to the POEA office in Ortigas?

Hi, yung husband ko umuwi siya dahil end contract na sya. Yung shop nila has a new owner,it means only that they have a new employer. The new employer gave him a new contract, re entry and ticket to return in Saudi. Ok naman po sila. My question lang po ako, ano sya direct hire ba case nya?

Hi Ely, I’m quite confuse about the comments and replies kasi based dito po sa amin, kahit skilled workers are banned for direct hire and it really needs to undergo an agency even though re-hired na ako which is still under balik manggagawa. Please assist in clarifying this matter. 🙏

I am Camille Meyrina I just have some questions to ask .
I’m in currently in japan now . I studied in japan for 1 year and 6 months. I graduated last March 16 2018, and now my visa in on process for changing in working visa , my part time job adopted me as direct hired employee. All my papers here in japan is ok I can take a working visa. I’m here in japan do I need POEA?

I’m came here in japan as student visa , After I graduated my part time job , direct hired me . My visa is on process now in japan all my documents is ok but my lawyer saying something about POEA and polo ,so I go to polo japan and they said direct hired is band , can I process my documents without going home?

From our experience, there seem to be a huge disconnect. The people in the PH Consulate Office in Vancouver were surprised about how complicated it is for applicants to get a clearance. Ibig sabihin, hindi sila updated about DOLE or POEA requirements. Sa POEA office na lang po siguro i-diretso ung question mo, mukhang sila lang makakasagot.

I am based now in Guatemala, I got hired directly here while I was traveling in the country last July 2017. I am working as a teacher here. How do I apply for a direct hire OFW? I am returning in PH this July as well and will be back in Guatemala in August. Medyo kelang cguro ako sa time to process things? Please advice. Thanks!

I am working in Shenzhen China for more than 5 years and I am a registered OFW. I changed to a new company and already started working now for a few months Currently, we are more than 10 filipinos working here. Now I plan to go back to Philippines for vacation. Do I still fall under returning OFW or Balik-Manggagawa? Thanks.